M. Jedediah asked:


VOIP is an advanced technology which has surpassed the telephone companies and the mobile companies. Its popularity is increasing enormously with an increase in its network coverage. It has proved to be an astonishing invention which has created a new mode of telecommunication by using internet. VOIP is an abbreviated form of Voice Over Internet Protocol.

Salient Features Of VOIP

The VOIP technology possesses many salient features which have attracted a large section of people towards itself.

1 - With the introduction of VOIP technology, the making of calls has become easy and cheap. You can easily make local, long distance, and international calls by using a broadband net connection which is a high-speed net connection.

2 - Its one of the significant advantages is the capability of directing the incoming calls to the VOIP service and one can easily get the details of incoming calls from any computer possessing internet by using VOIP system.

3 - It is a network that follows you wherever you go therefore you will never miss any of your important calls even if you are out of town.

4 - It has helped a lot in cost reduction because of the cheap call rates, the monthly telephone bills have cut down. Therefore, setting up of VOIP is very much beneficial economically.

5 - There are many value added services offered by the various VOIP service providers. For example, there is voice mail facility, 3-way conference, speed dialing, call forwarding, simultaneous ring, call waiting, caller ID, call return, caller ID block, anonymous call rejection, an interesting feature of do not disturb, and last number dial. All these services are mostly free of cost in their basic service plan.

6 - There is a facility of managing your VOIP account online from any corner of the world if there is an availability of a broadband internet connection.

Drawbacks Of VOIP Technology

The dark side of using VOIP technology has made the customer to reach the state of dilemma whether to go for VOIP technology or not. The major disadvantage of VOIP is that a problem can be cropped up by using VOIP technology and text messaging because it has been found that the use of this technology can lead to many security flaws.

Experts are working on the problem of security flaws, but have not come to any results yet. Therefore, one cannot rely completely on the use of VOIP technology. In terms of security, VOIP is not also completely supportive for their encryptions. Because of this weak point, it has become easy for the cyber attackers to impede the communication system.

How To Call Without VOIP

It is also very easy to make calls without possessing VOIP service by using an adaptor. This adaptor will be hooked up to a regular phone and to your VOIP in order to utilize the residential VOIP phone which can be a VOIP phone, landline, or cell phone. This adapter has proved to be very much useful for those who do not want to make investment in VOIP service.

Residential VOIP

Residential VOIP is a type of software which permits the downloading of technology on your computer to chat with anyone across the globe. In this system of communication, computer will be solving the purpose of the telephone. There is one specification in using residential VOIP service and that is the person whom you want to contact should also need to possess the software with same technology on his computer.

Therefore, after considering the both positive and negative aspects of the VOIP technology, you should come to an apt and appropriate decision whether to opt for it or not.



Susan

skeetrosauce asked:

This is an idea that Jason came up with and submitted it to Touchmods. The folks over at www.mangodoo.net are working on making this come to life and hope to have them ready in January of 2009. Here is their site where they feature this info: http://www.mangodoo.net/index.php?page_id=3&product_id=7 They also have a few other interesting things on their agenda in the future. So I take no credit for this idea, I simply have been working on making my own for quite some time now and I’ve finally …

Tyler

Jon Arnold asked:


After all the research you have finally gotten around to doing on the topic of VOIP and VOIP services, you are just about ready to take the plunge. Making the decision to go with VOIP, however, is only half the battle. There are a truckload of VOIP providers out there, each one telling you that their service is the best one since sliced bread, so how do you make an intelligent and informed decision about which one to go with?

The first thing you need to realize is that not all VOIP services are created equally. One of the limiting factors is your high-speed Internet connection, since that will be used for your home VOIP to make and receive calls. VOIP will work reliably with DSL or cable (or better), but is not recommended if all you have is a satellite high-speed Internet connection, and VOIP is not recommended if you have access only to a wireless connection.

The vast majority of problems with VOIP from virtually any VOIP provider comes down to a lack of a reliable high-speed Internet connection. Your Internet provider may CLAIM you are getting reliable service and a fast connection, but if you are having trouble getting something as simple as VOIP to work on it, then they are blowing smoke at you and it may be time to look for another Internet provider. In terms of the Internet connection part of VOIP, that is just about as simple as things will ever get, and your Internet provider should be able to handle it. If they cannot, they may have purposely blocked it because they want to sell you VOIP services themselves … at twice the price!

Now you need to determine what VOIP features you need. Almost all the VOIP providers and VOIP plans provider caller ID, voicemail, and call waiting, so let’s see what else needs to be considered, and this is where things start to differ and get quite interesting.

Almost all of them offer unlimited long distance calling in the continental US. But do you call Canada a lot, or make frequent calls to Puerto Rico? If so, there are VOIP providers who include Canada and Puerto Rico in their unlimited calling plans.

Do you have friends, perhaps your parents or a sibling that you talk to a lot but they do not have VOIP? Is it the case where they call you frequently? You may wish to consider a plan that includes a virtual number or where you can get a virtual number cheaply. A virtual number is a phone number in that city. Say you live in Detroit so you of course have a Detroit phone number on your VOIP phone. Say you talk to your sister a lot in Houston who does not have a VOIP phone. You can get a Houston phone number in addition to your Detroit phone number, so now your sister can make a LOCAL call to your Houston number, and when she does, your VOIP phone at your home in Detroit will ring so it doesn’t cost her anything! Is that cool or what?

Determine your needs and then start comparing VOIP features to see which VOIP provider offers the most bang for the bucks, based on what you need. Don’t pay extra for VOIP services that you will only use once in a blue moon.



Claudia

icallvoip asked:

As it says.. a preview of the iCall application for the iPhone, a match made in heaven! This video shows using a free wi-fi connection from starbucks, receiving a phone on your regular cell number, and switching the call to VoIP (free) seamlessly.

Henry

Kristen asked:


Spectacular gains in productivity and significant savings in terms of costs are motivating many businesses to avail VoIP services and solutions. The traditional voice system is increasingly giving way to VoIP systems and IP based solutions. The importance of VoIP resellers can be understood in this context.

VoIP resellers are an important link in the VoIP reseller services value chain. The VoIP resellers ensure that the VoIP services reach end-users in more instances than one. They offer call termination services to users in different parts of the world. The VoIP reseller services make the most of the existing VoIP reseller business opportunities that are replete in this very “niche” market segment.

A few words on the profile of a VoIP reseller. A business having an established customer base in a particular geographical area could become a VoIP reseller. A technical knowledge about the VoIP domain is not required. Neither does a potential reseller need to make a large investment in terms of money or time. Resellers could make the most of VoIP reseller programs, wherein complete infrastructure to terminate calls are provided for. The initial capital requirements are done away with as all the equipment and infrastructure are delivered by the service providers.

In VoIP reseller services, telephony lines could be integrated with VoIP call termination services at industry leading costs. The savings so accrued could be passed over to end users through guaranteeing them a reduced tariff structure. Because of the reseller VoIP services, VoIP solutions are increasingly becoming extremely popular and user-friendly the world over.

Potential customers for VoIP resellers could be small and middle level businesses that are committed to increasing their organizational productivity. As a matter of fact, there is no dearth of business opportunities in VoIP reseller services. Businesses from different domains are joining in the band wagon and the competition is expected to become more intense in the near future.



Joy

joyce kaye asked:


The Growth of Wholesale VoIP

VoIP grew very quickly in the retail market so it goes without saying VoIP grew in the wholesale market. VoIP is the next generation in IP communication that is happening today. In the year 2006, the US market for VoIP advanced dramatically adding close to four million households making the revenues grow quickly in the high- tech market. This serge of growth in the retail market escalated very rapidly and the ability for VoIP providers, carriers and resellers to get high quality routes to international destinations at low prices has created a VoIP commodities trade market.

Voice over internet protocol is what VoIP is all about which brought forth the serge of new companies like Vonage, Cisco, Skype, Call Manager and a host of others who are utilizing the VoIP technology. This new technology is a process of using the capabilities of the IP with the phone in order send voice. The developers created an industry around VoIP technology in the desktop applications, telephone services, and corporate phone systems. VoIP a core technology that drives everything from voice-chat software loaded on the desktop PC to Mac full-blown IP-based telecommunications networks in large corporations. VoIP is a major invention for the corporate world and for the home; it is an excellent way to save on the phone bill.

VoIP is not actually that new the concept has been around since the 1990’s but phone companies were afraid that VoIP would destroy the long distance revenue generated. Since its conception, VoIP has become one of the mainstays of IP usage for both large corporations, small companies and the householder. The retail sales for VoIP have escalated so greatly that now the wholesale volume has increased immensely. This is the time for any brokers or agents to get in on the growth of wholesale VoIP. The VoIP market is positioned for sustained robust growth. Statistics predict residential VoIP will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 116 percent through 2009. The growth of VoIP is not just within the USA countries like Western Europe, Mediterranean, South Africa, and Africa is the fast growing mobile markets of the region.

The market soon will be flooded with VoIP-enabled cell phones that connect with your WiFi directly so that you will not have any interruption to your calls if you need to switch from one system to the other. This is just one of the new innovative products that seen its way on to the market. Just like all families of technology, the window of opportunity is open for only a short time. The first few users of VoIP faced with the technical difficulties that not all end users encounter when a new product hits the market so for a while, VoIP put on the market but suddenly everyone began talking about VoIP again. Engineers have worked long and hard working out the bugs and broadband providers have expanded and upgraded their networks.

Now that VoIP became mainstreamed, there are different ways that you can become a part of the program making a large profit. Agents find that they prefer to be connected with a company like Access Line marketing the product to their prospective clients. Wholesale VoIP resellers are finding a few good routes for VoIP termination and are buying, selling and trading routes from all over the world for profits at VoIP marketplaces websites like eTermination.com. VoIP is here to stay and now is the time to start brokering the deals.



Rhonda

lockergnome asked:

http://live.pirillo.com - Online auctioneer eBay Inc. said Monday, Niklas Zennstrom, the co-founder and chief executive of Internet phone service Skype, , is stepping down and will become non-executive chairman of Skype’s board.

Viola

lisa asked:


VoIP – WHAT IS IT AND HOW IT WORKS

 

VoIP or Voice-over-Internet is a technology that allows you to make voice phone calls over the Internet.  It’s through the use of a broadband Internet connection that allows you to do this. Some companies and their equipment only offer you the service of calling others with the same VoIP while other companies allow you to call anyone, anywhere with a phone number, it doesn’t matter what service provider they have.   

 

Your voice is converted into a digital signal and is carried over the Internet with VoIP technology. If you are calling someone who has a regular telephone, then the signal is converted to a telephone signal before it reaches its target. You may use a special adaptor connected to a phone using VoIP to make your phone call, a regular phone or the computer. Furthermore, there are what’s known as ‘hot spots’ where you can use wireless Internet connections with VoIP to connect wirelessly to make phone calls while you are at the airport, business meetings or a café downtown. You might have to have a special connector on your wireless phone to be able to make these calls, check with your provider.

 

In order for the VoIP to work you will need a broadband – high speed Internet connection. This can be through a regular cable modem, local Internet provider or a high speed DSL carrier. You will also need a computer, an adaptor or a specialized phone in order to hook up to VoIP. Some VoIP services only work over the computer and not with a telephone, so if you are going to use your computer to make the phone calls, an inexpensive microphone and special software – which you can obtain from the provider – will do. Other providers of VoIP services will supply you with a VoIP adaptor in which you plug into the computer and also into a regular phone so that you can dial just like always.

 

Check with your provider before purchasing service with them. Some providers only allow you to call other people with the same VoIP or similar services. You will not be able to call everyone you know if they are using a regular telephone company. Many other companies have it set up where you can call anyone, anywhere, even if they do not have a VoIP set up. You will h

VoIP – WHAT IS IT AND HOW IT WORKS

 

VoIP or Voice-over-Internet is a technology that allows you to make voice phone calls over the Internet.  It’s through the use of a broadband Internet connection that allows you to do this. Some companies and their equipment only offer you the service of calling others with the same VoIP while other companies allow you to call anyone, anywhere with a phone number, it doesn’t matter what service provider they have.   

 

Your voice is converted into a digital signal and is carried over the Internet with VoIP technology. If you are calling someone who has a regular telephone, then the signal is converted to a telephone signal before it reaches its target. You may use a special adaptor connected to a phone using VoIP to make your phone call, a regular phone or the computer. Furthermore, there are what’s known as ‘hot spots’ where you can use wireless Internet connections with VoIP to connect wirelessly to make phone calls while you are at the airport, business meetings or a café downtown. You might have to have a special connector on your wireless phone to be able to make these calls, check with your provider.

 

In order for the VoIP to work you will need a broadband – high speed Internet connection. This can be through a regular cable modem, local Internet provider or a high speed DSL carrier. You will also need a computer, an adaptor or a specialized phone in order to hook up to VoIP. Some VoIP services only work over the computer and not with a telephone, so if you are going to use your computer to make the phone calls, an inexpensive microphone and special software – which you can obtain from the provider – will do. Other providers of VoIP services will supply you with a VoIP adaptor in which you plug into the computer and also into a regular phone so that you can dial just like always.

 

Check with your provider before purchasing service with them. Some providers only allow you to call other people with the same VoIP or similar services. You will not be able to call everyone you know if they are using a regular telephone company. Many other companies have it set up where you can call anyone, anywhere, even if they do not have a VoIP set up. You will have to check with the provider of your services about long distance charges, because sometimes there is going to be a charge for long distance usage.

 

One of the disadvantages of using a VoIP only telephone connection is that you may not be able to dial or connect with 9-1-1 emergency services operators. You will want to check with the VoIP provider before signing up to make sure they can offer you the 9-1-1 emergency services connection. If they do offer the 9-1-1 emergency services, the calls are handled a little differently and you may experience some minor wait time before your call is connected to the emergency services operator.  

 

ave to check with the provider of your services about long distance charges, because sometimes there is going to be a charge for long distance usage.

 

 

One of the disadvantages of using a VoIP only telephone connection is that you may not be able to dial or connect with 9-1-1 emergency services operators. You will want to check with the VoIP provider before signing up to make sure they can offer you the 9-1-1 emergency services connection. If they do offer the 9-1-1 emergency services, the calls are handled a little differently and you may experience some minor wait time before your call is connected to the emergency services operator.  

 



Lillian

ICDCLiverpool asked:

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), sometimes called Voice over Broadband, or Internet telephony, is simply a way to use your existing broadband connection to place voice calls over the Internet, using your PC or laptop plus a set of headphones, or a telephone-like handset, instead of using a phone line. Read the full report at http://www.icdc.org.uk/News_2007_02_09_b.aspx

Stephanie

Roy King asked:


Voice over IP (VoIP) software is used to manage phone voice discussions across the Internet. There are numerous free VOIP Software applications ready for use on the web for download. VOIP Software is in demand because VOIP phone service is often cheaper than conventional phone service, and is becoming further sought-after for both business and personal calls.



 7 powerful benefits of a VoIP Software Solution:

 

1. Ease of Use - Internet telephony provides voice mail and other telephone services, and installation of simple VoIP software is easy for anyone with an iota of ability. Industry insiders forecast that, in time, Internet phone technologies and services will supersede much of the workload at this time handled by plain old telephone service.

Making phone calls over the Internet isn’t just for the technical knowledgeable anymore. Employing VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) is easier than ever before, with a number of VoIP providers out there that can help considerably decrease the cost of your current phone bill.

 2. Saving Money -The greatest benefit of VoIP over the typical telephone service is the cost. It is far less expensive to furnish a customer with Internet Phone Service than it is to furnish them with regular phone service. This means the client receives better prices also.

3. Portability - You don’t necessarily need a VOIP phone to obtain portability. Some providers of computer based VOIP services offer a Web interface. This interface allows clients to log in and place calls from anywhere in the world, so long as a broadband Internet connection is available.

4. One Stop Solution - VoIP Internet phone service is being favored amongst the latest generation users as it furnishes a one stop phone solution for making long distance as well as international calls at lesser fees.

The reason why we haven’t all been utilizing a VoIP solution to make calls up to the present moment is that it requires a broadband Internet connection, and broadband has only existed widely ready for use to home and business users for a somewhat short time. However, with broadband becoming constantly more common, VoIP solutions have started to take off in a huge way.

5. Functionality - VoIP phone usefulness can also be carried out with a PC or laptop if you have the Softphone software and a headset or microphone and speakers.

To use your regular analog or cordless phone, you’ll need an Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA). Plug your phone into the ATA and the other end into your high speed broadband or DSL modem.

Your VoIP service provider or broadband phone company should be able to furnish you with one of these. Apart from that, online stores sell many popular brand names VoIP Phones.

6. Business Networking- Selecting a business VoIP phone service may be unavoidable, however selecting an appropriate service provider will allow the company to discover features that will convey immediate benefits, as well as harvesting the cost savings and scalability a VoIP service essentially offers.

Business VoIP software offers a huge collection of applications. Obtain your faxes and voicemail through your email box or web browser. Conference calling, Caller ID, Paging equipment, Handsets, Call forwarding, no problem on a business trip - take your IP phone or Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) with you and your number follows you, or configure your phone to call-forward.

7. Business Productivity - The majority of the business owners are now consciously accepting business VoIP phone service for better business productivity. Many service providers offer structured and affordable VoIP service plans together with PBX systems.

VoIP phone service breakthroughs are advanced with many PBX functions such as auto attendant and voicemail that naturally boosts any business productivity.

The auto attendant facility provides great assistance in administering all the incoming calls. This feature expedites receiving numerous calls simultaneously. Callers are now welcomed with a recorded greeting. If a caller is left unattended, the caller will be provided with a voicemail option by which they may leave messages in the voicemail box.

The choice of the virtual receptionist assists accompanying calls is provided from the establishment of the service provider. Therefore, your calls are answered in spite of off-hours and weekends in need of keeping live receptionists at your office. As a result, the advantage of a business VoIP phone service redeems your capital and increases the productivity of your business.

Finally, VoIP Software Solutions are easy to use, manage, and expand into. Features for advanced small business VoIP technology save time and money, providing an efficient choice for all.



Shane